Beethoven and the Creative Process

Beethoven's habit of composing by making many preliminary drafts and sketches was sufficiently unusual to attract attention even during his lifetime, and his creative process has attracted a good deal more attention since. This book incorporates the findings of recent studies on Beethoven's creative process and examines his underlying creative motivation, the interrelationships between his various works, and how his output was determined by external factors and his personal life. Including an introduction to his compositional methods and a detailed study of particular compositional problems of six different works, the book provides insight into the creative life of one of the greatest figures in musical history.

This book incorporates the findings of recent studies on this subject, provides a fascinating picture of the act of composition by one of the world's greatest composers. This book is divided into three parts, designed to lead the reader gradually from broad issues to matters more detailed and less easily approached.